Griffin Cemetery was relocated for the construction of Interstate 40. There are 12 readable
stones here. A very historical cemetery, it contains the remains of Jack Spaniard, hanged by Judge Isaac C. Parker
August 30, 1889. The date of death on Jack Spaniard's tombstone reads August 16, 1888. According to
S. W. Harman's book "Hell on the Border" Jack Spaniard was hanged on August 30, 1889 along with a Black man
named William Walker. Walker had killed a man for ten dollars. Spaniard's story goes like this:|
In 1886,U. S. Marshal William Irvin was taking Felix Griffin to Ft. Smith to be tried for horse stealing. Jack Spaniard and a pal, Frank
Palmer waited in ambush and killed the officer near Pheasant's Bluff, shooting when he rode in range. After killing Irvin and releasing Griffin
they rode away, not noticing that Spaniard's dog stayed behind with the body. Spaniard and Palmer had been seen soon after
they left the scene without the dog. This fact along with the appearance of the animal at the place of Irvins murder and
the testimony of men who had seen the dog in Spaniard and Palmer's company previous to the murder completed the chain that needed one link to
convict. The dog was kept at the jail for months, held as a witness. He was brought into the courtroom during Spaniard's trial
and the dog went directly to Spaniard. This led to the conviction. Felix Griffin was shot in 1887 trying to steal another horse.
Palmer was never captured. |
Information used with the generous permission of Gary Lester, Braggs.
Submitted by:Shelia L. Carter
| Hayes, Willie | Apr 4, 1890 | May 1, 1890 | so/ W & ME Hayes" |
| Hayes,Emma | Dec 13, 1884 | Feb ?, ? | dau/RW & ME Hayes |
| Hayes,Infant | Nov 27, 1883? | Nov 27, 1883? | so/ R & Eliza Hayes |
| Scott,Lillie | Feb 10 or 16, 1876 | Feb 29, 1876 | Beloved Child of Fannie Griffin |
| Spaniard,Jack | | Aug. 16,1888 | aged 30 yrs |
| Starr,Infant | | Aug. 3,1880 | Infant child of Frost & Fannie Starr |
| Starr, Rosa B | Feb 19, 1893 | Feb 28, 1893 | dau/ F & FC Starr" |
| Following are Footstones | | | |
| RBF | | | |
| WG | | | first row with Griffins think may be Wm Griffin?) |
| WH | | | Willie Hayes?) |
| LS | | | Lillie Scott?) |
| EJG | | | wo/ Wm Griffin?) |
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